Benefits, Uses & Side Effects of Matcha

Matcha is green tea present in powdered form and is extracted from the Camellia sinensis plant, from which white tea, black tea, oolong tea, and other green tea types are made. For all the tea lovers, matcha is one of the favorites. It is usually used as a tradition in Japanese tea parties.

Matcha is not exactly like green tea. Green tea is made from whole leaves, but matcha’s leaves are grounded into a fine powder that does not require straining after steeping.

You can blend the lively green powder into warm water and gulp the entire cup. When it comes to cultivating matcha, it takes several weeks for the plants to grow, and they require a sufficient amount of shade to grow.

After the harvesting process is done, the leaf veins and stems are cut off, and the rest of the plant is dried, stone-grounded, and steamed into a fine looking powder.

Health Benefits of Matcha

According to various research of Matcha and its elements, it has lot of benefits.  It can protect the heart, liver, and even helps to reduce weight. Here are the major benefits of matcha.

• Secures the Liver

The liver is a very important component of our body, and it plays a major role in eliminating toxins, meting out nutrients, and metabolizing drugs.

Some researches prove that matcha can help to protect the liver from a lot of problems. According to a rat-based study, a group of rats was given matcha for four months, and as a result, it helped to secure their liver and kidneys.

Moreover, a proper estimation of fifteen studies proved that drinking matcha tea is associated with fewer risks of liver disease.

However, there is still more to discover on matcha and what else it has to offer to our health.

• Weight reduction

In every weight loss supplement, you will notice the involvement of “green tea extracts” in the list of ingredients.

Matcha is well known for its tendency to help lose weight. Other than that, it also helps to speed the metabolism up and motivates fat burning processes.

According to a study, if you take matcha tea with moderate exercises, there is a high chance of a lot of weight within weeks.

• Rich in Antioxidants

Matcha is rich in antioxidants, which helps to reduce cell destruction and prevents chronic disease. The catechins in matcha are known as antioxidants.

The major role of antioxidants is to stabilize dangerous free radicals, and they can damage the cells and give birth to chronic disease.

When matcha powder is mixed with hot water, it becomes tea, and the tea is filled with natural extracts that come from its leaves.

So, if you decide to add matcha to your diet, it can help to increase your whole antioxidant intake, which can help you to attain your health free from cell damage and fewer risks of chronic disease.

• Enhances the Brain Function

With all the healthy nutrients in matcha, it has shown to improve memory, reaction time, and attention span. It also contains different levels of L-theanine and caffeine, which helps to enhance different aspects of the brain.

If you tend to consume at least two-grams of matcha tea every day for two months, it can help to reduce memory tracts and boosts the brain functioning.

Uses of Matcha

As mentioned above, matcha is traditionally used as a form of tea in Japanese events, but there are other uses of it as well. With your creative senses, you can combine matcha with different types of ingredients and make something new of it. So, take a look at the following uses of matcha.

• Make Matcha Porridge

Creating matcha oatmeal with matcha powder is pretty much the most common use of it, and it is certainly a very creative use. Other than that, you can use matcha with other porridge types as well, such as millet porridge or cornmeal porridge.

To add aesthetic demand to your matcha porridge, you can use sliced strawberries or bananas as a garnish. All of these ingredients can make your matcha porridge even more tasteful.

• A cup of Matcha Tea

Now, this is the ideal use of matcha; matcha tea. Just add a half teaspoon of matcha powder in hot water. Mix the blend quickly, and your matcha tea is made. You can also use a chasen to mix the blend, as you need a utensil, which will give you a nice back-and-forth motion. Unfortunately, metal whisks or other kitchen tools might not be able to provide you enough levels of back-and-forth.

• Make Matcha Ice Cubes

Another great use of matcha is to turn it into frozen cubes. Just add matcha to cold water and fill it in your ice tray and place it inside the freezer. Once the matcha cubes freeze, you can use them as dressings with fizzy water, lemonade, or cocktails.

• Matcha with Purees and Soups

You can take your creative senses to a whole new level by adding them into purees and soups. Purees and soups made from turnips, sunchokes, or parsnips taste even better with matcha.

Side Effects of Matcha

Drinking matcha tea and using it for other purposes is safe for adults, but there are still some side effects that require your attention.

• Headaches

Matcha can cause headaches in those people who already suffer from migraines. As matcha contains certain levels of caffeine, it can pose a threat to migraine sufferers. So, if you are caffeine- intolerant, avoid matcha.

• Vomiting

Taking an excessive amount of matcha can lead to vomiting and nausea. It is because matcha contains tannins that are linked to constipation and nausea because of how proteins surround the intestines.

• Bleeding Irregularities

Matcha has the capability to trigger bleeding irregularities. The elements in matcha decrease the presence of fibrinogen – a protein for clotting blood. So, if you suffer from blood clotting problems, do not take matcha.